Page:The Enormous Room.pdf/103

92. self. Such extraordinarily huge reddish hands as might have

grasped six seidels together ir, the Deutsche Küchen on 13th street. I gasped with pleasur, le relief. Monsieur le Gestionnaire lli red as if he was trying very

hard, with the aid of his beribboned glasses and librarian 's jacket (not to mention a very , onderous gold watch -chain and locket that were supported byi is copious equator) to appear

possessed of the solemnity necessarily emanating from his lofty and responsible office. This solemnity, however, met its Water

loo in his frank and stupid eyes, not to say his trilogy of cheer ful chins — so much so that I felt like crying “ Wie gehts !" and

cracking him on his huge back. Such an animal ! A contented animal, a bulbous animal; the only living hippopotamus in self. Such extraordinarily huge reddish hands as might have grasped six seidels together in the Deutsche Küchen on 13th street. I gasped with pleasurable relief.

Monsieur le Gestionnaire looked as if he was trying very hard, with the aid of his beribboned glasses and librarian's jacket (not to mention a very ponderous gold watch-chain and locket that were supported by his copious equator) to appear possessed of the solemnity necessarily emanating from his lofty and responsible office. This solemnity, however, met its Waterloo in his frank and stupid eyes, not to say his trilogy of cheerful chins—so much so that I felt like crying "Wie gehts!" and cracking him on his huge back. Such an animal! A contented animal, a bulbous animal; the only living hippopotamus in captivity, fresh from the Nile.

He contemplated me with a natural, under the circumstances, curiosity. He even naively contemplated me. As if I were hay. My hay-coloured head perhaps pleased him, as a hippopotamus. He would perhaps eat me. He grunted, exposing tobacco-yellow tusks, and his tiny eyes twittered. Finally he gradually uttered, with a thick accent, the following extremely impressive dictum:

"C'est l'américain."

I felt much pleased, and said "Oui, j'suis américain, Monsieur."

He rolled half over backwards in his creaking chair with wonderment at such an unexpected retort. He studied my face with a puzzled air, appearing slightly embarrassed that before him should stand l'américain and that l'américain should admit it, and that it should all be so wonderfully clear. I saw a second dictum, even more profound than the first, ascending from his black vest. The chain and fob trembled with anticipation. I was wholly fascinated. What vast blob of wisdom would find its difficult way out of him? The bulbous lips wiggled in a pleasant smile.

"Voo parlez français."

This was delightful. The planton behind me was obviously angered by the congenial demeanour of Monsieur le Gestion-